Terra Low 4:1

[cewtwo]

There are times when you need more than 4 low to get where you need to go.

I am thinking of buying and installing a Terra Low 4:1 system.

An Atlas transfer case would be ideal but it is very expensive. A terra low is much more affordable but you need to be a good wrench turner.

Recently, a friend purchased one and found out to his chagrin that the bolt patterns did not line up. He called terra low and found out that 25 units were bad but they had recovered them all. He informed them that they had not as his was not a good unit. They will exchange it, but they want the "bad" unit returned first. All shipping is to be done at my friend's cost.

So, I need some opinions.

1. What do you guys know about Terra Low?

2. How hard is it to install? (Keep in mind that I just recently installed a SYE unit to my transfer case).

3. Do they have a good reputation? Are the customer relations problems just a recent thing?

4. Is it worth the investment?

5. Is the Mighty YJ built up enough to accept the extra torque that the Terra Low will throw out?
(The only part of the drive train that is stock is the front drive shaft. - Front axle is a super 30 the back is a Ford 8.8 (beefed up) and a custom back drive shaft with SYE. There are 411 gears in the differential of the front and the 8.8 has a 410).

6. Is the 4:1 really going to slow us down to where we will notice it?

A good example of a recent trail was upper Spring Creek. After the rock garden there are still large rock fields that can be difficult to negotiate. Sometimes you have to torque so slowly that the engine seems to be about to die. Is a terra low the answer?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Sounds like the 4:1 would suit you well, and if you can install the SYE then you can do the TeraLow. You have to remove the 231 completely and replace the front case half, not a tough job.

 

[Wrangl3r93]

One of my good jeepin buddies had one installed and he loves it. You have almost the same set up as him but he has a beefed up 44 in the rear and he wheels every weekend and hasn't broken anything yet.

 

[cewtwo]

I have actually taken the Mighty YJ through our Summer season without a break as of yet. I am amazed at that alone.

 

[yjdave]

I just got one this spring and love it. One of the best mods i've made in awhile. very easy to install. Lots more control on the trails. If you like mud alot it might be alittle low for you. Check out $$ on pirate....Got mine shipped to my door for 750.00. I also went with the 2 low option which helped alot being locked in the front.

 

[cewtwo]

Thanks, YJDave. I got about the same quote without having to endure Pirate. I am not into mud, so that does help.

 

[redrooster]

Just a thought, if you can get the 4:1 for $750 and the SYE for a couple hundred....have you weighed out the total cost of that against the Stak or Atlas? Since the development of the 3 and 4 speed Stak and Atlas cases, it is my understanding that the two speeds have gone down a little.
Plus there are two other benefits of having an Atlas or Stak: you eliminate the guess of whether the case is strong enough and you also get the ability to shift axles independently of each other.
Like I said just a thought. Any which way, you'll love the extra gearing.

 

[yjdave]

I do agree the bigger 2sp are the s*#t. But even with the 3-4 spd coming out the atlas 2sp is still over 2k plus the twin stick. But if you already have sye then it makes sense to just add to the 231 and save $$.............02

 

[jfrabat]

So just to make sure I am reading things right, for mud, it is NOT a good idea to go to 4:1? I was reading this and I was thinking about my own rig... Seeing how it will be doing mostly muddy trails (not the same mud as here in FL, where its more of a swamp than mud, but rather that clay-like mud), this should not be a mod to consider?

Felipe

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

You want wheel speed to clean the tires in the mud, so lower TC gearing is generally not the way to go. Keep the low gears in the axles to compensate for larger tires, but keep the TC and transmission gearing the same.

 

[jfrabat]

Thks, Bounty...

 

[cewtwo]

I bought one.

$795 with free shipping...

I was offered 2 low option for $950 shipped. As I have an ARB front locker, I decided not to get it. The dealer explained that it was (basically) to turn off the front drive shaft to enable a tight turn when you need it (steering/turning).

It should be here on next Thursday.

I'm going to Moab 10/5 to 10/8 and I definitely want it in and field tested prior to that...

I'll keep you posted.

 

[Utah_jeepster]

Tera-low is a good choice for rock crawling, and Moab is a great place to have it. My Tera-low unit has taken more places down there that a winch could ever do. As for mud running...it sucks because you cant generate enough wheel speed to clear the caked in mud off your tires lugs. In wet or non-packed snow its a life saver but when it gets packed up and ices over...

Install is a breeze as long as you have a good set of snap ring pliers(sockets and wrench's are a given here). When you install the front and rear yokes use new dimpled nuts on the out-put shafts and coat the otter spines in silicone sealant (RTV) because at extrema angles the 90 weight likes to slide in between the spines and yoke and drip out.

 

[yjdave]

Good job....you'll love it specially at moab. Your right not getting the 2low with the arb in the front. I have a detroit and hubs so i needed the 2low to turn more easy.

 

[cewtwo]

It arrived yesterday.

Well, I'm going to busy for a few days...

 

[cewtwo]

The TeraLow is in and working!

It was surprisingly easy to install. Once I found instructions that I could actually understand, the changeover was easy.

Hardest part was actually removing the transfer case from the Mighty YJ and then putting it back in! Changing the cases was not time consuming and uneventful. I works great! The Jeep just crawls very slowly!

The mighty YJ will be going to the windshield shop tomorrow and then should be ready to use this weekend. I'm planning on going toward the Buena Vusta to Gunnison to Crested Butte for a fun weekend camping and trail riding with a new TeraLow.

 

[cewtwo]

After testing it this weekend?

I LOVE MY TERALOW!!!!

 

[draganov]

Where did you find the Teralow kit for 795 shipped?

 

[Wrangl3r93]

I see that I posted in this a while back and the friend I referred to has since changed his mind. He's on his 4th tera low unit and doesn't expect this one to last either. According to him the tera low for the 231 has sun gears, similar to an automatic transmission, and anything over 2k rpms will grenade the case. This isn't a problem for strictly rock crawling but here in Tn we have muddy hill climbs and the occasional pond or two where wheelspeed is crucial.